Category: news

WatchOS 9: All the new Apple Watch features coming soon

 WatchOS 9 public beta is now available for all Apple Watches starting with Series 4. You’ll also need to have the iOS 16 public beta installed on your iPhone. Both updates are free to download from Apple, but you should be cautious when installing any beta software. Features may change between now and final release, and there may be bugs or elements of instability. If you’re installing a public beta, I highly recommend backing up your Apple Watch and iPhone. Here’s a look at all the new Apple Watch features coming soon!

WatchOS 9 looks fresher and more iPhone-like

One thing I noticed after installing the public beta was the different notification appearances on the Apple Watch. A new banner notification similar to the iPhone now appears at the top of the screen. When a text or email arrives, notifications no longer take up the entire screen unless your watch is inactive or locked.

Siri also borrows some of the same look from the iPhone by showing icons at the bottom of the screen when you summon the virtual assistant. How to swipe up to access Control Center, now you can see text size settings. Before, you had to pop up the Settings menu to change the font size.

Another small but welcome improvement is the battery widget, which you can add to the iOS 16 lock screen. Now you can easily check the battery level on your Apple Watch without unlocking your phone. If you put the watch on the charger, it can even reflect the charging status in real time.

New watch faces take full advantage of the Apple Watch Series 7 screen

There are four new watch faces to choose from:

1. Metropolitan: A customizable clock face with complications and numerals that moves in and out as you turn the digital crown

2. Astronomy: Higher resolution than before, you can now see hourly updated cloud coverage

3. Playtime: As the name describes, big bouncy numbers float around the screen and move when you tap the screen or rotate the crown

4. Lunar calendar: The lunar calendar is displayed when the crown is rotated

WatchOS 9 enhances workout app with more screens

The new multisport mode automatically lets you link two or even three activities together at once, without the need to manually stop, restart, or add another workout using the Add function. You might be competing in a triathlon, or just want to jump right off the bike for a run. WatchOS 9 will automatically detect when you start this new activity and switch between workout types as you do.

Even more exciting are the heart rate zones. Your Apple Watch can now show you your heart rate zone at any given moment during your workout. Based on your personal estimated maximum heart rate, you can be alerted when entering different zones. This can help you understand how hard your heart is working during cardio and if you’re reaching your limit. All of these zones are fully customizable and you can change them by going to Settings > Exercise > Heart Rate Zones.

WatchOS 9 is built for runners

For the first time, Apple Watch will be able to display running form metrics in the Workout app, including vertical swing, stride length, touchdown time and running power metrics. These also appear after you run the Activity app on the iPhone.

You can now create custom workouts by tapping three dots before starting an activity to set personalized distance and time goals that may better fit your training program. You’ll also see a new feature called Pacer here. This allows you to choose the distance and desired finish time, and the watch will then give you the speed you need to reach that goal, alerting you when you’re above or below that speed.

improved dictation

Now, WatchOS 9 goes a step further and automatically inserts punctuation into sentences as you speak. No more saying “period” and “comma” or awkward “question marks” to manually add punctuation. This should be on by default, but if not, go to Settings > General > Dictation and turn on automatic punctuation.

Your iPhone can now control and mirror your Apple Watch

Just as Assistive Touch on WatchOS 8 let you control your watch by moving the muscles in your hands and arms, Apple Watch Mirroring on WatchOS 9 changes the accessibility game. It allows you to mirror your Apple Watch on your iPhone, so you can control every aspect of your watch by touching the larger iPhone screen. It even lets you use the digital crown and side buttons.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Apple Watch Mirroring. You’ll now see some simulations of your Apple Watch live on your phone.

>>>>>>>>>Apple battery

New Nokia T10 could challenge Amazon’s Fire line as one of the cheapest tablets

 In the world of cheap tablets, there’s little to consider other than the Amazon Fire series. Just check out our guide to the best cheap tablets to prove it — all but two entries are from Amazon. But the company may have more competition now, as the Nokia T10 has just been released at an attractively low price.

This Android tablet features an 8-inch 800 x 1280 screen, modest Unisoc T606 chipset, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone port, face unlock, 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera. It also runs Android 12 and promises two OS updates and three years of monthly security updates, which the brand claims is twice as many as the competition.

The Nokia T10’s design also seems appealing, with its polymer build featuring an unusual nano-textured finish designed to hide scratches. Plus, it comes with Google Play Space and Google Kids Space, the latter of which could make it a great device for kids or families looking for a cheap tablet. What’s more, it supports a range of accessories.

If you’re interested, you can buy it in the UK in Ocean Blue from August for £129 (about $150/AU$225) for the Wi-Fi model, or £149 (about $175/AU$2) ) $260) if you want 4G too.

This isn’t the only new Nokia-branded device, though, the Nokia 8210 4G, Nokia 5710 XpressAudio and Nokia 2660 Flip have also been unveiled. All three phones landed in the UK in late July, but they look less interesting – or at least more niche. The first two are feature phones (one of which comes with a pop-up integrated headset), while the 2660 Flip is an Android flip phone aimed primarily at seniors.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Nokia battery

Asus Zenfone 9: everything you need to know

 Asus was one of the last Android phone makers to offer powerful, compact models for those who don’t want to pack a lot of phones in their pockets or bags. Now, thanks to a video that has surfaced online, we have a pretty good idea of ​​what to expect from the next generation of these handhelds.

When will the Asus Zenfone 9 be released?

Asus has yet to announce an official release date, but we can take some clues from past generations. Here’s when they debuted:

ASUS Zenfone 8: May 2021

ASUS Zenfone 7: September 2020

ASUS Zenfone 6: May 2019

ASUS Zenfone 5: May 2018

It’s traditionally the launch slot that Asus assigns to new Zenfone models. Obviously, that month has already passed, so we are looking for a later date. Judging by the leaked video below, the device appears to be complete and ready to go. September feels too far away, but Asus is already taking shape in that space, so we predict the new Zenfone 9 will arrive by then, if not a little sooner.

How much does Asus Zenfone 9 cost?

Again, Asus did not confirm pricing. Here’s how past generations line up:

Asus Zenfone 8: $629/£599

Asus Zenfone 7: $749/£569

Asus Zenfone 6: $499/£499

Ticket prices have fluctuated a bit in recent years, but we suspect the cost of the Zenfone 8 should be transferred to the new model, as Asus appears to be going with the compact design and construction introduced with the Zenfone 8.

What features and specs will we see in the Zenfone 9?

While Asus hasn’t released any official details about the Zenfone 9, the company does appear to have accidentally posted a video of the upcoming model on YouTube before hastily taking it down. If the video is accurate, it reveals a lot of details about how the Zenfone 9 will be configured.

On the processor side, Asus has gone with a Snapdragon Gen 8+ 1 chipset, which is on par with the class of high-end phones in 2022. We don’t know about storage or memory allocation, but if the company follows suit by Zenfone 8 expect multiple configurations. We think 6GB/128GB may be retired, replaced by a simplified 8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB, 12GB/256GB, 16GB/256GB options.

The display is a 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch hole in the upper left corner. There’s no in-display fingerprint sensor, as Asus has placed it in the power button on the right. This also acts as an ersatz trackpad, allowing you to scroll content on the page by swiping up or down.

Cameras have always been an essential element in modern phones, so the improved optics shown in the video look like a step forward, especially when it comes to video. The 50Mp Sony IMX766 sensor used in the Zenfone 9’s main camera is a solid performer that delivers great photos. The Zenfone 9 adds a 6-axis gimbal module for optical image stabilization, so video footage should be rock-solid.

Asus says the dual-camera system has been “massively upgraded.” This makes sense since the Zenfone 8 has a Sony IMX686 on the main camera, while the secondary unit is a 12Mp ultra-wide camera with a Sony IMX363 sensor. Hopefully the ultra-wide on the Zenfone 9 gets the same boost as the main camera. We don’t have any info on the selfie camera, but if Asus decides to up the power of all the lenses and sensors, it should be an upgrade from the 12Mp module in the Zenfone 8. In the video, there’s also a new Light Trail mode, which could be a cool way to take arty photos if you’re out at night.

Audio will come from dual stereo speakers, and a surprising 3.5mm headphone jack is included if you prefer to plug in cans. Everything will be powered by a 4300mAh battery, and thanks to its IP68 rating, the unit will be water and dust resistant.

Asus also showed off a few accessories in the video, a smart backpack stand that may also come with a power pack, and a Connex phone case with a built-in stand and card holder. Details about any of these fees are not yet available.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>ASUS battery

Google’s new Chrome feature can boost laptop batteries for free

 A new feature in Chrome could increase laptop battery power — potentially solving one of the biggest problems with using Google‘s web browser on mobile.

According to the About Chromebook website, there’s a new flag in Chrome OS 105 that prevents JavaScript from running in the background on websites you’ve opened in a tab but aren’t viewing.

This expands on a feature added in Chrome OS 88 that sets a five-minute timer to prevent scripts from running immediately. The thinking at the time was that these scripts would be CPU-intensive, and the more the laptop’s processor was used, the faster the battery drained.

If you have a lot of tabs open that are running JavaScript, this can have a big impact on your laptop’s battery life.

Analysis: what this means for you

It appears to have been successful since the “fast intensive timer limit for loading background pages” feature was added in Chrome OS 88, leading Google to consider reducing the “conservative” grace period of five minutes to a few seconds.

In a post on the Chrome Platform Status page, it was reported, “This is expected to improve battery life. An experiment on the Canary and Dev channels did not show any regression to our guidance metrics, and when all tabs are hidden There was a [sic] significant improvement in CPU time (~10%) when silent and silent.”

As a hallmark of Chrome OS, this feature is expected to primarily benefit Chromebooks running the operating system. It’s based on the Chrome browser and uses multiple tabs, so we’d expect Chromebooks to have better battery life.

But does that mean non-Chromebook users are out of luck? Not necessarily, as we imagine this feature is also coming to the Chrome web browser, so if you’re using it on a regular laptop, you can also expect to see your device last longer on battery – and it’s all free.

This is still an experimental feature at the moment, so it’s not enabled by default, but you can turn it on by going to chrome://flags and finding it there. Hopefully after a while of testing to make sure it doesn’t cause any issues, it will be added to Chrome OS and Chrome in the near future.

>>>>>>>>>>Google battery

How to Use Apple’s Lockdown Mode to Protect Against Industrial iPhone Hacking

 For most of us, following basic privacy and security tips should be enough to keep ourselves and our data safe online. But if you think you’re the target of a state-sponsored cyberattack using industrial-grade spyware tools like Pegasus, the usual rules of staying safe may not be enough.

If you’re a journalist, politician or activist worried about your phone being the target of a state-sponsored cyber attack, Apple has released a security feature that everyone can use to protect their iPhone from such attacks .

Apple‘s new security tool, called Lockdown Mode, is built into iOS 16 and is designed to combat attacks from malware and spyware like Pegasus. Here’s what you need to know if you want to know how to enable lock mode on your iPhone.

What does Lockdown Mode do?

According to Apple, Lockdown Mode provides an “extreme, optional level of security for a very small number of users who, because of who they are or what they do, may be the individual targets of some of the most sophisticated digital threats.”

Essentially, Lockdown Mode increases security features on iOS by restricting certain features that may be vulnerable:

1. With the exception of images, most email attachments are blocked, and features like link previews are disabled.

2. Web technologies such as just-in-time JavaScript compilation are disabled unless you exclude it from lockdown mode.

3. If you have never called the person before, incoming invitations and service requests, such as FaceTime calls, are blocked.

4. All shared albums in Photos will be deleted and any new invitations to shared albums will be blocked.

5. Any wired connection between your iPhone and computer or accessories will be blocked.

6. Unable to install profiles, such as those from Apple’s public beta.

7. Your device cannot be registered for mobile device management.

Which devices support Lockdown Mode?

Currently, you can use Lockdown Mode on any Apple device running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or MacOS Ventura. As of now, iOS 16 is only available as a developer beta, but it is expected to be available as a public beta soon.

How to Enable Lockdown Mode on iOS 16

As long as you’re running iOS 16, you can easily turn on lock mode in seconds. All you need to do is go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, read through the description, click Turn on Lockdown Mode and then Turn On & Restart.

Your iPhone will restart immediately, after which lock mode will be enabled. If you go into Safari, you should see a Lockdown Enabled or Lockdown Ready banner at the top of the page, indicating that Lockdown Mode is actually on and protecting your iPhone.

Configure Lockdown Mode Settings

While Lockdown Mode offers extensive security, you can tweak it to better suit your needs.

As mentioned above, websites in Safari are severely restricted in Lockdown Mode, but you can bypass these restrictions by excluding a website. To do this, launch Safari, go to the website you want to exclude, click AA > Website Settings, turn off Lockdown Mode, and click Turn Off . The banner at the top of the site should now read Lockdown Off.

To see all excluded sites, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, then click Configure Web Browsing at the bottom of the page.

How to Disable Lockdown Mode

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, tap Turn off Lockdown Mode, and then tap Turn Off and Restart. When your iPhone restarts, lock mode will be disabled and you will be able to use your iPhone as usual again.

>>>>>>>>>>Apple battery

Samsung Galaxy S23 is expected to use Snapdragon processors across the board

 The expected arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S23 isn’t far off now — it should be around January — and the latest prediction from people familiar with the matter is that the phone lineup could exclusively use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

That comes from the usually reliable industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes that the superior performance of the next-generation Snapdragon mobile processor will “likely” beat anything Samsung’s own Exynos 2300 manages to do.

Samsung has previously split CPU duties between itself and Qualcomm when it comes to Galaxy S phones. In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S22, 70% of the phones have a Qualcomm 8 Gen 1 processor, while 30% have a Samsung Exynos 2200 — these Exynos phones are mostly sold in Europe.

Chips are available

Although rumors have started, neither the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 nor the Samsung Exynos 2300 are official. Both chipsets will use 4nm architecture technology, just like the processors they are replacing.

However, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, Samsung CPUs can’t compete with Qualcomm in “everything” — and Samsung won’t sell a phone if it differs significantly in performance or battery life, depending on which processor is inside and Where in the world is it sold.

The move was also predicted by other sources, and Samsung is apparently working to have new and improved CPUs ready for 2025, while preparing to use Qualcomm chips. However, there is no firm news yet.

Analysis: What we know so far

We’re still 6 months away from seeing the Galaxy S23 — assuming Samsung will launch the phone when we think it will — but as to what this 2023 flagship might bring, There has been quite a bit of speculation.

We’ve heard that the rear camera module could feature a 200MP primary sensor and be the first Samsung phone to hit the megapixel mark. Obviously, the selfie camera on the front will also get a major upgrade.

According to people familiar with the matter, the selfie camera will not be embedded in the display. We can also expect the usual performance boost, and we might even get improved battery life – don’t count on it though.

Let’s hope Samsung makes enough to keep up with demand. Before we see the Galaxy S23, though, we’ll get the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which will be released sometime in August.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Samsung battery

Mi 12S Ultra has the world’s largest smartphone camera sensor

 Xiaomi’s new 12S smartphone lineup includes the Mi 12S, Mi 12S Pro and 12 Ultra. All three phones will feature camera modules developed in partnership with Leica. The partnership, announced Monday at a virtual event, is the first for the Chinese phone maker, calling it a “strategic upgrade.”

Of the three, the Mi 12S Ultra is the highest-end model. It has a unique design designed to mimic the big-lens aesthetic of DSLR cameras and includes a powerful camera module to boot. There’s a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 50-megapixel wide-angle lens.

But the main feature is the one-inch sensor Sony IMX 989 for the main camera (wide-angle lens), which Xiaomi managed to cram into the Mi 12S Ultra’s chassis. For context, that’s the same sensor found in Sony’s $1,200 point-and-shoot RX100 VII, which means the Mi 12S Ultra has the largest image sensor on any phone.

However, be warned: a phone’s time-honored camera hardware doesn’t guarantee top-notch photos. Like any other phone, the Mi 12S Ultra’s software will also play a key role in determining the image quality of the final photo, despite Xiaomi‘s proven track record.

Other specs for the Mi 12S Ultra include a top-of-the-line processor in the form of the first-gen Snapdragon 8 Plus, which Xiaomi says will mean lower power consumption and reduced heat emissions. There’s a 4,680 mAh battery powering the phone, which is complemented by 67W fast charging. There are also two custom Surge chips for battery management.

Mi 12S Ultra key specs

Dimensions: 163.17 x 74.92 x 9.06 mm

Resolution: 3,200 x 1,440 pixels, 522ppi

Cameras: 50-megapixel wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, 48-megapixel telephoto lens

Weight: 225 grams

Battery: 4,860mAh

Charging: 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Xiaomi battery

How to connect AirPods to a Chromebook

 When you stream Netflix on your Chromebook, you can easily listen to music or get better sound through headphones. But if you don’t like being tangled in wires, Bluetooth earbuds like Apple’s AirPods are a great option. Here, we’ll show you the steps you need to follow to connect your AirPods (or other Bluetooth headphones) to your Chromebook.

Can I use any bluetooth headset with my Chromebook?

Yes. If they use Bluetooth to connect to the device, they’ll happily use their Chromebook. However, some features may not work, especially if you have AirPods.

Controlling Siri, for example, is impossible because the Apple digital assistant resides on the iPhone and communicates with the AirPods, rather than “in” the earbuds themselves.

AirPods can be paired with multiple devices — thanks in part to iCloud — but they can only handle one active Bluetooth connection at a time. So make sure they are not connected to your iPhone (or Android phone) when trying to set them up on your Chromebook, as this can cause problems.

The easiest way to test this is to turn off the bluetooth on your phone while connecting them to your Chrome laptop by following the steps below.

How do I connect AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones to my Chromebook?

Connecting wireless earbuds to your Chromebook is easy. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Click the time displayed in the bottom right corner of your Chromebook.

2. In the menu that appears, click the Bluetooth icon to turn it on, then click the down arrow to open the Bluetooth settings.

3. Open the case on the AirPods or press the pairing button.

You should see the headset appear in the list of Bluetooth devices detected by your Chromebook. ChromeOS will then automatically connect the earbuds and you’ll see a message letting you know this has happened.

To disconnect your AirPods from your Chromebook, go back to the Bluetooth settings and click the settings “cog” icon in the upper-right corner of the window.

You’ll be taken to the main settings page and you’ll see the Bluetooth earbuds listed as connected. To the far right of its name, click the three dots and select Disconnect.

>>>>>>>>>>>>AirPods battery

Installing Android apps in Windows 11 just got easier

 We’ve seen the development of easier access to Android apps in Windows 11, thanks to a new tool that lets you install those apps with a single click.

The WSA tool is an app that should make it easier to install and run Android apps in Windows 11.

The arrival of Android apps in Microsoft’s operating system has come as a surprise to some since the June announcement that Windows 11 showed off a host of new features.

While the apps will be available in the new Microsoft Store through a partnership with the Amazon Appstore, some wondered if other Android apps would be available outside the store. However, we’ve seen developers find ways to make your favorite Android apps available on Windows 11, whether they’re available on the Amazon App Store or not.

How to install WSATools

First, you need to make sure you have “Windows Subsystem for Android” installed on your device. This will ensure that Android apps can be downloaded without any problems.

Once done, download WSATools and you can now install Android apps with one click. These are usually labeled “.APK”, which is the file format in which Android packages are downloaded.

Clicking an app you download from Google will install the app like any Windows 11 app on your device, and you can log in and use them just like you would on an Android smartphone or tablet.

Analysis: inevitable

You can almost guarantee that indie developers will try to make the impossible possible. While a few weeks ago you had to go through a command prompt to access Google’s Play Store, now you can install Android apps like any other app in Windows.

While Microsoft takes a different approach to Android apps, WSATools shows how well Android apps can be managed and installed if Microsoft and Google decide to officially allow full access.

>>>>>>>>>>>>Computer battery

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 may be more similar to the Z Fold 3 than we expected

 While we’ve heard a lot of leaks about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, we haven’t seen too many, and our best ideas about the possible design may be wrong.

This is according to TechTalkTV, who claimed on Twitter that the camera layout of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 will be almost identical to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

These renders show a camera design that appears to be more inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, with the lens rising directly from the rear rather than housed in a unique camera block.

But that doesn’t make a huge difference, as both these renders and the Galaxy Z Fold 3 include three vertical lenses with a flash underneath. It’s just that the Z Fold 3 – and according to the latest leaks there’s also the Z Fold 4 – has a metal casing around the lens.

It’s probably a shame if you wish there was an updated design, but it’s not all bad news, as in a follow-up tweet TechTalkTV also claims that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 will “definitely have a 50MP main camera.”

This isn’t a new claim – various other leakers have said this before, but it’s more likely to hear it from another source, which would make the Galaxy’s 12MP main camera an upgrade – at least by megapixels Fold 3 for unit Z.

Analysis: Much-needed camera improvements

If we had to choose between a new design or a new sensor, we would definitely go with the new sensor, as the 12MP primary sensor in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is good, but far from exceptional.

The 50MP sensor rumored here is likely to be the same 50MP sensor in the Samsung Galaxy S22, and we’re pretty impressed with its performance. Having said that, given that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is sure to be expensive, we had the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 108MP sensor earlier.

Previous leaks have also pointed to other camera upgrades, with multiple sources suggesting that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will feature a 3x optical zoom telephoto camera, up from the Z Fold 3’s 2x optical zoom. Again, this isn’t an improvement as much as we did. Still, from what we’ve heard so far, we’re not sure if the Z Fold 4 will disrupt our best camera phone list.

>>>>>>>>>>Samsung battery